Title page for ETD etd-05222002-212746

Marriage & Family Therapy Faculty Member’s Balance of Work and Personal Life

Degree

Master of Science

Department

Human Development

Advisory Committee

Advisor Name

Title

Rosen, Karen H.

Committee Chair

McCollum, Eric E.

Committee Member

Stith, Sandra M.

Committee Member

Keywords

Qualitative Research

Marriage & Family Therapy

Work and Personal Life Balance

Faculty

Date of Defense

2002-04-26

Availability

unrestricted

Abstract

This mixed-method study examines the work and personal life balance of Marriage & Family Therapy faculty members across the U.S., 16 of whom were interviewed to gain a deeper understanding of their work and personal life balance issues. Of those, six felt they had good balance, six felt they had poor balance, and four were “middle of the road.” More men than women felt they had good balance. Faculty members indicated external and internal indicators such as family and workplace messages, health cues, feelings of contentment, and congruence with personal values help them determine how they feel about their work and personal life balance. Other findings indicate that many factors impact MFT faculty member’s sense of their work and personal life balance, including child and relationship status, tenure status, and gender issues. Balance enhancers included job flexibility, setting healthy boundaries, their ability to say no, spirituality, positive work esteem, and participation in non-work activities. Balance reducers included developing bad habits, negative work esteem, problematic but temporary life circumstances, and poor work boundaries. Faculty members also discussed some of their coping strategies and made recommendations for future MFT faculty members such as good self care, not viewing work as a race, being intentional, prioritizing, and strategizing.